Why Do Spiders Cause Fear?
WouterIf you are worried about having spiders around you, there are a number of options to help you deal with the fear. Psychotherapy, exposure therapy, and medication are common treatment methods for people with spider phobia. Regardless of the type of treatment you choose, it is important to understand the connection between spiders and fear.
While spiders are often depicted as scary in the media, studies have shown that spiders can be a natural part of the environment. Many spiders are venomous, which makes them a potential threat to humans. Arachnophobia can develop as a result of a traumatic experience with a spider.
Research has suggested that the fear of spiders can be genetic, cultural, or environmental. Scientists say that the fear is an evolutionary response to an innate tendency to prepare for threats. During the Middle Ages, Europeans thought that spiders were the harbinger of the Great Plagues. In fact, many Europeans believed that spiders were the cause of the Black Death.
Studies also have shown that infants experience stress when seeing spiders. Researchers found that identical twins who lived in separate homes showed substantial differences in how they responded to spiders. Despite the apparent differences, there were still substantial similarities between the fear responses of the two.
One study showed that infants who saw spiders were more likely to show signs of fear when they saw snakes. The researchers hypothesized that arachnophobia may be an evolutionarily advantageous trait.
